Instead of allowing people to continue to whisper about a tape before ONE ACTUALLY WAS PRODUCED, the Obama campaign took on the rumor mill head on Thursday by launching a little site called Fight The Smears. Yes, complete with a place to donate to the campaign.

So why address rumors before they become, oh, actual stories? Let’s let The O explain why. Here’s what he said when he was asked by a reporter about the Michelle /”whitey” rumour:

“We have seen this before. There is dirt and lies that are circulated in e-mails, and they pump them out long enough until finally you, a mainstream reporter, asks me about it,” Obama said, bristling. “That gives legs to the story. If somebody has evidence that myself or Michelle or anybody has said something inappropriate, let them do it.”

So if you’ve got the “whitey” tape, come forward or forever hold your peace. Unless, you’d prefer to wait to present it, as some have guessed, as an October Surprise.